Crushing the Club Wars
“Huh? Eugene. Who’s that girl?”
Ashy, who had bought a whole box of chocolate milk, looked at Eugene with a puzzled expression.
Who’s that girl?
If it was someone in Eugene’s circle, it was in Ashy’s too. But this was a face she’d never seen before.
Did he pick up another one?
“You’re back? This is… uh, hmm. How do I put it? We just became friends?”
“???”
Ashy approached with a baffled look and held out the box.
Eodukshini naturally pulled out the chocolate milks from the box and stashed them in the sealing artifact.
Eugene watched the scene with a complicated expression. It really felt like his pockets had turned into a bottomless pit.
“I bought a ton of chocolate milk to drink later. I mixed in some banana milk and strawberry milk too, so let’s all have some together later.”
“Yeah……”
“Hi! I’m Ash Blue.”
Ashy flashed a friendly smile and extended her hand to Kamel.
She gives off a similar vibe.
The aura’s different, but the energy she radiates…
“I’m Kamel Riglion……”
“Riglion? From the merchant family, right? Nice to meet you. You’re not a Sky Academy student… Mazaha Academy?”
“Y-yes, that’s right……”
He wasn’t curious how she knew. Before that, his attention was drawn to the atmosphere Ashy exuded.
Just like Eugene.
But a slightly different flavor. Eugene’s vibe had a sharp edge, while Ashy’s felt blunt and soft.
Yet beneath it, razor-sharp… but on the surface, warm, almost like…
“……Mommy?”
“Is that your greeting?”
She’d called him “mommy” earlier too.
When Eugene asked, Kamel couldn’t respond and hung her head low.
Ashy stared intently at the top of Kamel’s head.
Never seen her before…
She wasn’t in Ashy’s memories or her stored intel.
But she was special.
Because she wasn’t human.
“Well……”
“Maybe we just have that approachable look?”
“……Me?”
Fine for Ashy, but him? Eugene made a dumbfounded face, but Ashy ignored it, smiling sweetly at Kamel and offering her hand again.
“Wanna be friends with us?”
“O-okay.”
“Then my contact’s here……”
There was a communication orb that let you talk even from afar, though it wasn’t used much.
Ashy gave her orb number, then Eugene’s too.
Huh?
“I don’t have a communication orb?”
“I got one for you, so it’s fine.”
“……?”
When the hell did she buy that?
“All Mazaha Academy students! Gather up! The interclub confrontation starts soon!”
The call to assemble Mazaha students rang out from afar.
Shouldn’t she head over?
Kamel, who’d been unwrapping a pack wrapped in her robe, flinched and looked up.
She silently turned to Eugene and Ashy. Ashy smiled and said,
“Better hurry. Want help with the robe?”
“……Sure.”
With Ashy’s help, Kamel slipped on the robe.
Hm, looks good.
With the hood pulled down tight, Kamel bowed politely to the two of them. Ashy, looking at her like an older sister pleased with her little sis, waved cheerfully.
“See ya~”
Kamel clutched the gem preciously in both hands and scurried off.
Her steps looked way more relaxed and at ease than before.
Ashy kept waving until she was out of sight, then turned to Eugene.
“Eugene.”
“?”
“You didn’t pick up another girl, did you?”
“No!”
“The way she looked at you wasn’t normal.”
“No, I didn’t do anything! She bumped into me.”
“You sure?”
“Totally sure!”
I really didn’t do jack!
Sky Academy students soon started gathering in one spot too.
Man, hits the nostalgia. Like middle school sports day, with kids milling around in clumps.
Where’s Jenella and Adria?
“If you’re not competing, you can’t stand here.”
“Oh! I’ll head out then!”
“Ah……”
I got no friends. Were Jenella and Adria not competing either? They were waiting for Ashy from afar.
No, all my friends ditched?
The only one left was Eodukshini……
-Can divine beasts join too?
“Oh my. What a cute slime. You can join if you want, but no need. Wanna hang with sis instead?”
-Sure!
No way, that punk?
“Where you calling punk from?”
-Eek!
“Sorry. My divine beast’s a bit of a perv. I’ll take him.”
“Aw, don’t go. You hang too……”
“I’m out!”
This girl’s a beast!
I scooped up Eodukshini and bolted.
If I’d left him, he’d have gotten devoured or tormented for sure.
Aware or not, Eodukshini wriggled in my grip.
-Me too! I wanna play with hot girls! You hog ‘em all!
“Why only girls? That’s sexist.”
-I’m a guy! Why play with dudes? Girls want hot guys too!
True that.
“But you don’t have a gender.”
-Bull! I’m male!
“Last time you had that neutering surgery……”
-Species surgery!
Whatever, whatever.
Eodukshini deflated sullenly in my pocket.
No helping it, buddy. Jealous? Shoulda been the owner.
“Huh? Yahan!”
“……!”
Yahan, standing quietly in line, flinched at my shout and trembled.
He turned slowly, his face screaming why are you here?
I sauntered up and slapped a hand on his shoulder buddy-like.
“Practiced a lot?”
“Hah.”
Yahan snorted and swatted my hand away.
Hey, why brush me off like that……
“This time, I’ll finally crush you.”
“Sure. Can’t wait! Go get ‘em!”
Hm, nowhere to mess around?
So bored.
Tormenting Eodukshini? Nah, he was too mopey.
Hm……
Thwack!
Right on cue, someone smacked my shoulder as they passed.
“Ow, that hurts.”
Playing weak, I staggered. The beefy dude who hit me openly glared down.
Intimidation tactic?
Total early-buildup extra vibes.
“Watch it, kid.”
“Kid? Sorry, sirs. My bad, didn’t see you.”
I bowed repeatedly, then gasped in mock surprise at their faces.
“Oh! You’re not old geezers?! Thought you were from the faces! Sorry!”
Crack!
“This little shit……”
“Hold it.”
The dark-skinned hunk who’d lunged grabbed his buddy and glared down.
Whew, tall.
Like 2 meters? So what. Weaker than me anyway.
“Short and scrawny too, huh? Bet you can’t even fight. Here for the club confrontation?”
“Sir, brain not working? Obvious question… Oh! Face ain’t old, brain is too! Didn’t know!”
Crack!
Pissed, pissed!
“Hey, you! What the hell?”
“……See you later. Next time, I’ll break your legs.”
“Mouth’s still good, huh~? Legs heal anyway. Oh right, with faces that old, no dicks? Sorry~ Magic won’t grow those back?”
I cackled mockingly. Their eyes rolled back, lunging.
Nearby students swarmed, holding him back.
Good, good. Only way to save your pal.
“Look at ‘em, can’t even game! Let it go!”
Crack!
What? Can’t do what?
Told ‘em to save him, now they’re begging to kill?
Dare touch that spot?
What academy they from?
Bongas Academy?
Hate the name for some reason.
All fucked now.
Crack! Crack! Craaack!
I rolled my neck, memorizing their faces.
Even a dog learns to stand or handstand after beatings.
True or false? Today we prove it.
Humans doing it, not dogs!
The club confrontation began.
All festival booths halted, all eyes on the showdown.
Now introducing the first event! Team Relay Race!
Oh…… lame.
Thought it’d be group brawl or something. Team relay? Boring……
Goal: Cross this cliff!
Not quite.
Maybe ‘cause of the buff participants, terrain changed to cliffs.
Damn, fall and you’re dead?
Even eager students hesitated a bit.
“Who’s going?”
“I’ll do it!”
“Me!”
“Me!”
Snap snap!
Thought no takers, but my club kids shot hands up like crazy.
What? Since when… Ah.
They wanna hit me that bad?
I smirked at their glaring eyes.
Fine!
Try if you can.
“Okay. You, you, you. And Mosik. Four of you.”
“Got it.”
I picked ones built like Mosik.
They strode out confidently, snap snap.
Others slouched out, eyeing Mosik.
“What year you in?”
Mosik answered stiffly.
“First-year.”
“First-year?!”
“That face?”
“Looks more beat-up than us?”
Hey, why pick on my Mosik? Kid might be weathered!
Huh? The guy I taunted earlier, you called weathered trash?
That’s enemy, this is ally. Arms bend inward! Wait, wrong saying?
“Seniors, I presume. Which academy?”
“Mazaha Academy.”
“Mazaha judges by faces only? Disappointing. No honor.”
“……”
Winning like that? Their faces flushed with shame.
“……I misspoke. Apologies.”
“Honorable apology. Thank you.”
Nobles I know don’t talk like that…
Like the ultimate noble princess.
-Hey! Water’s cold!
-You didn’t turn on hot!
-Turn it on!
Always whines about no hot water ‘cause she doesn’t turn it on.
Can’t clean, can’t cook…
Take after Mosik half. Didn’t say Adria. Probably?
All teams ready! Shout your club names before start!
“Dolly Dolly Club!”
Mosik bellowed.
Too loud! Cool name maybe, but Dolly Dolly? What the hell!
Nearby folks burst laughing. Couldn’t lift my head.
But they stared ahead solemnly, dead serious.
“Mai Gumi Club!”
“Kim Haon-chan Club!”
“Kim Haon Album Club!”
“No Deadline Club!”
Damn, theirs suck too?
Only weak clubs entered?
Go!
Bwooo!
Whatever. Amid hype, starting horn blared.
Magic ropes bound feet.
Eh… they add that?
But my club kids charged unfazed.
Snap snap snap!
Insane speed!
Perfect sync, cliff-running like solo sprint—artistic even.
Overwhelming skill gap!
Perfect teamwork!
Waaaaaaah!
Roaring cheers, they blitzed the cliff unmatched.
Good I drilled ‘em to the limit.
Most had blessings too. Subtle, but perfect body use.
This was our edge.
Official event, no dirty tricks, but buffs okay.
My blessings outclass others, so jealous? Become a priest!
Haha! Hotel voucher’s mine!
-Ours, right?
No, mine!
Yours mine, mine mine!
We’re bros!
Most events went similar.
Even without me, we dominated.
Basketball, needing skill/physics, we lagged a bit.
“Here comes the 100-pointer!”
“No such thing!”
“Anyway, max shot!”
Once I joined, skill/physics irrelevant.
“Mosik!”
“Hah!”
Tall, bulky Mosik and I carried, smashing all clubs.
Even basketball hopefuls crushed.
Too much? They’re low knight level prep.
I’m high knight elite, Mosik different tier.
Other events couldn’t beat our desperate club.
Like storm sweeping, fallen foe trembled, asking our waiting crew:
“Wh-why go so hard……”
“You don’t get it!”
One screamed maniacally.
“Our desperation!!”
““Raaah!””
“We’ll hit him!! No matter what!!”
That bad?
Uneasy. Too intense.
So I joined harder.
“Uwaaak!”
“D-disaster!”
“R-run!”
Overdid it?
Basketball, dodgeball, relays, two-hand throws—swept all with huge scores.
Sun set, darkness on Sky Island. Spectators tiring, sky beacon rose.
Piii—
Mana phoenix screeched. Wings flapped slow.
Snow poured like feathers.
Phoenix of eyes, fire, immortality—raining snow.
“Ah…… this is……”
“Divine power……”
Profs as serious as our kids.
This production value.
Sky Academy host—sloppy or loss? Dishonor.
Prove honor for budget!
Final event starting.
Fwoosh!
Phoenix scattered, revealing massive snowfield.
Principal!
First-time lich seers froze.
But lich ignored, continued calmly.
Winning club brings glory and rewards to academy!
Lich blinked—world lit up.
Damn, magic galore? Changed sky color via island barrier.
Folks entranced. Lich’s huge arm raised trophy.
Prepare!
Final event floated in air:
「Group Tournament」
Font different? Go fancy, pick fancy words too?
-Author’s skill lacking, author’s skill lacking.
“Didn’t say shit.”
Stop fact-assault!
“Kids. They’ll target us first. Can you hold?”
“Obviously. That barrage? We got it.”
“Good. Hold then. I’ll smash ‘em.”
“Wait.”
“?”
One raised hand.
“This way, you get ace. Give us a shot.”
Oh. Sharp.
“Bet then?”
“?”
“Your kills vs mine solo. Even if I ace, yield to one of you.”
“!”
Kids nodded fiercely.
I scurried to waiting Nipella.
“Prof, prof. Count us separate.”
“……Eugene. No thought to go easy?”
“Bet I can’t lose. Gotta go all out.”
“……”
Prof obliged quietly.
Tournament proper started.
Felt tons targeting me. Headed isolated spot—clubs swarmed.
“C’mon, guys.”
I hung head. Laugh here? Look psycho.
But they thought scared, lunged.
Thud!
Grabbed club at my head.
Can’t hold back!
Grinned, smashed club-kid’s face.
“This weak!”
Bam!
Snatched club, swung.
“On a kid!”
Kaboom!
“Like this!”
Kabooooom!
“You call that fighting?!”
Kaboooooom!
Each swing cratered ground, kids flew.
Eyes gleaming, charged rest.
“All you come at me!!”
“Said stay back sec agooo!”
“Money appear poof!!!”
Kaboooooooom!
Huge boom, students scattered.
20 mins later.
No students near me or elsewhere.
M-match over.
Stunned announcer.
WAAAAAAAAAAH!
Insane cheers.
Fancy lights on me!
Arms wide, bowed gentlemanly.
“Thank you, thank you. Will enjoy hotel voucher well!”
-E-Eugene. Say something about school honor…
-No gain for me?
-One extra day off.
“All this thanks to school. Grateful for its honor!”
Clap clap clap!
Soul-less line done, scores tallied.
My club clutched hearts, staring board.
Thump, thump……
ACE – Eugene
82
63
“……”
“……”
“N-no! Still our kills!”
Overwhelming gap. One kid muttered at my number.
“……That possible?”
“W-wait! Bet says winner slaps you, so exclude you? Second ace Mosik……”
I shrugged.
“Never said exclude me.”
“……”
You bastard!